SCHEDULED to begin at 11 am, the parade of the bands in San Fernando only kicked off after 1 pm on March 4. But despite this, judges said the turnout was larger than last year, and police said it was incident free.

A total of 15 bands had an opportunity to impress the judges with their vibrant, colourful displays just outside the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA).

Jagessar Costumes was the first band to make its way to the judging point with its theme Red Clouds Over The South. Bandleader of the veteran fancy Indian band Lionel Jagessar Jnr paid tribute to his father, the late Lionel Jagessar Snr with some of the sections.